Pet Sitter in Hamilton, Ontario

Hi -- I'm Joanne and my dogs are Jack and Kuhl. I've been pet-sitting/house-sitting for friends for years so they can avoid kennelling their dogs or cats. With my foster daughter, Bev, we are able to provide part-time, full-time or overnight care or check in on your home or pets during the day. Bev takes pet care very seriously and often reprimands me for not taking meals out of the freezer in time or letting too much time elapse between walks! If need be, she will stay over as she doesn’t like to see dogs left on their own. See what I mean? :) I've been fortunate enough to travel with my dogs making numerous trips to North Carolina, Ohio, Chicago and our cottage in New York state. In June 2017, we travelled across country to Drumheller, AB, stopping to visit pet-friendly friends along the way. What a trip! I realize not everyone is a fortunate to travel with their pets so I offer the next best thing -- my home as your pet's home away from home. Or -- our ability to stay with your pet in your home. Feeding, exercise, administering meds and overnight sleepovers are all part of the package I offer at the White Dog Inn. That's also my pet-friendly rental cottage in New York state where cottagers can rent or leave their dogs for a few hours or a few days. Description of Skills: I've had 6 dogs in my life over the last 30 years -- two from puppyhood and the most recent who began as a guest dog 6.5 years ago and is still with me! My dogs have been enjoying home-cooking and natural rearing for the past 15 years. With a personal interest in fitness and nutrition, I've carried it a step further and am in the process of obtaining several certifications from Dogs Naturally Magazine in canine nutrition. While home-cooking and raw feeding is not for everyone, I've offered seminars and 1:1 instruction on transitioning dogs to these new diets with great success..... that end, I've been dehydrating organ meats, from free-range animals, as dog treats for my dogs and my friends' dogs. I've also dealt with older pets and cancer and specialized diets for these issues. While I'm not a dog groomer, I've had four Samoyeds in my life so keeping this double-coated breed brushed and clean is a skill I've developed. It makes most other breeds and coats a pleasure to look after. After a two-hour brushing session on my Samoyed Kuhl, Jack, the JRT/border collie, takes a mere 30 seconds! I've even got a secret remedy should your pet ever encounter a skunk -- and it takes just a minute to get rid of the oil and the stench. I've used it on Jack and Kuhl several times in the past year with great success and to my delight. Jack and Kuhl, and I have been through 20 weeks of dog training at Red Rover Dog School to work on our manners. I'm pleased to say that every guest dog in my home learns the "wait" command for treats and meals. My Summit, who is now gone, has the dubious distinction of being "top waiter" at several Dog Pawties we attended in the US with other Samoyed friends. I once put Summit and his sister Hillary into a "wait" with a treat in front of them, and then forgot about them and left to take a shower. I returned 20 mins later and they were still waiting! As we live near downtown Hamilton, our dog sitting services focus is in the lower city. We often load up into the SUV to head to the waterfront or a park for some scenic walking and exercise. Having had three dogs at one time, plus multiple guest dogs at once, we're pros at walking several dogs together. Let's Connect: Send me a message and I'll reply within a day. Engaging a petsitter is an important part of your planning process so you won't have to wait long to hear back from me.